294: Playing Possum Clothing Co - Olivia Flora

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Olivia Flora - founder of Playing Possum Clothing Co., a brand creating sensory-friendly clothing designed for neurodivergent adults.

Olivia wasn't diagnosed with autism until she was 16. Like many neurodivergent girls, she'd spent years masking her differences, excelling academically while quietly navigating sensory challenges and social disconnect no one around her could see. That changed when she entered a large public high school, and the coping systems she'd relied on for years began to unravel - bringing on severe anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic insomnia. After transitioning to a concurrent enrollment program and starting therapy, Olivia and her family finally found answers: her autism diagnosis, arriving a year later, brought clarity to a lifetime of unexplained experiences.

With that clarity came direction. Olivia leaned fully into her strengths, pursuing art and design while completing high school and college at the same time - graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.42 GPA and an Associate's degree at just 18. It was during this stretch that she noticed a gap nobody was addressing: sensory-friendly clothing made for adults, not just kids. What started as a personal need quickly became a world-changing mission.

Playing Possum Clothing Co. was born from that mission - blending Olivia's art and design background with her lived experience to create apparel that eliminates common sensory triggers like harsh fabrics, tags, and seams, all while showcasing vibrant, original artwork. What started in her parents' garage in December 2022 has grown into a thriving company with its own office, in-house production, and a team of five - now selling in more than 40 countries and building a community of over 130,000 followers.

For Olivia, this has never been just about clothing. It's about visibility, dignity, and self-expression for a community that's long been overlooked.

In this episode, you'll hear:
✨ Olivia's path to an autism diagnosis at 16, and the years of masking that came before it;
✨ How a personal need for sensory-friendly clothing turned into a business idea;
✨ Building Playing Possum from her parents' garage into a company selling in more than 40 countries;
✨ The gap in the fashion industry Olivia set out to fill for neurodivergent adults;
✨ Olivia's reflections on identity, comfort, and what it means to feel truly understood;
✨ And so much more!

Olivia Flora is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today!

Connect with Playing Possum Clothing Co.:
Website: playingpossumcc.com
Instagram: @playingpossumclothingco
TikTok: @playingpossumclothingco

Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com